Compare towns
Dover vs Wilder vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,087 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.